#nationalhandbagday

Borrowed this foreign celebration #nationalhandbagday to celebrate a shared obsession. My favorite Fossil Castille satchel was handcarried from Sydney by my older son. It was given by my only sister. The artisanal cat purse was bought during her internship by my sister's older daughter from a leathercraft maker in a crafts fair in Australia. The Baggallinis are my favorite crossbodies. The last bag nearest the wall is not mine. It's a Tumi T-Tech, the oldest in my husband's collection. So, yeah, bags and wallets. All in the family :-)

Can this be It?

I was just keeping my small blue notebook updated this afternoon. This is where I jot the bag collection of my sister and I. I noted for the first time that this Tignanello Perfect 10 Top Zip, which I bought to mark a "Freedom Day," is currently not just my favorite but the one I've used the longest. As my sister remarked in her email today, this is the bag that has seen my high and low points of recent months. I still keep it on the bed, nearly two months after I bought it from Rustan's Cebu. All my stuff sits comfortably inside. Ma's gift of a Le Sport Sac tote has tempted me to switch bags, but the Tigna is it.

Here's why I think this Tigna is a Perfect 10 if you're looking for a bag that's functional, handsome and chummy-as-an-old-shoe:

* Soft, smooth leather with silky print lining: Thumbs up! Tignanello leather is soft and becomes shiny with frequent use. The side of the bag that's turned towards my body is well buffed. The lining is nice to see and touch. The lining design of chains makes me think retro.
* Top zip closure with silver-tone hardware zipper puller: The zip's hole is not circular but square. If the zip is not positioned squarely, it doesn't function smoothly. Had the hole been circular, the zip would operate even if its "head" wasn't in position. But this is really a negligible design quirk.
* Single shoulder strap is adjustable and features bold silver-tone hardware: Both my sister and I have learned that a single strap is best because it will most likely not slip off the shoulder. I've placed the buckle on the second to the last hole because the strap's fall is just right: secure and comfy.
* Tignanello logo etched in silver-tone buckle: Nice and not loud at all.
* Front zipper pocket is great for keeping your keys and a cell phone: That's what the copy writer wrote, which makes me doubt if the writer was a she. For valuables like phones and keys, a secure, inside compartment is best. I put pens, note pad and tissue in this front pocket because it's convenient. Plus I don't worry that I might lose this stuff.
* Inside two slip pockets large enough to fit a cell phone and a backwall zipper pocket: Thumbs up! Roomy pockets. I keep my novenas in the backwall zipped pocket. The slip pockets are roomy and look sturdy but I don't keep my phone in these pockets as the phone might tear the stitches. It can hold a pocket perfume vial and note pad.
* Detachable silver-tone Tignanello logo key fob: Looks nice and classy but is actually heavy and makes the strap ends curl and the leather on this side scrunch and fold up. My sister advised me to take it off but I didn't. It's not too heavy to bother me though.

If you're a book lover, this Tigna can hold a pocketbook even if you bring a lot of essentials.

My sister bought on sale a black version of this in Australia. I've been egging her to use this because it's practical and classy for her new post. And bags like this need to be used and admired :-)

This is my second Tigna, after a black sling I got years ago from Rustan's Cebu. This Tigna I gave to my sister and she sent it back from Australia. We're not into slings, specially black ones. But this Tigna brings me closer to the mythical quest. Could the Tigna finally be "It?"

My mother's day gift from Mama

This is the Tribeca Tote Bebop that I got on sale from Rustan's Cebu with the gift money Mama gave me for Mother's Day :-) I got this after my second visit to the store, which had its mid-year sale. I recently saw a copy in the Koreans' stalls in downtown, but figured that I should get the genuine item with Ma's gift. This went for P2,000, down from its original price of P2,950. With the sale price, I could have bought two LV imitations. But after chewing my lip, I decided on the Le Sport Sac tote. When I came back on a Friday, this was the last piece left (there had been two identical totes the day before). Taking this as a sign (my sister knows this feeling :-), I got the LSS and have not regretted it. I brought this with me to Manila, along with other bags. I placed some toiletries and a book. It's handy and soft and light. It's not going to replace my Tigna but I plan to use this as a tote for bringing my sip bottle and books. Nana will surely comment when she sees me with two bags :-)

The New Year beckons New Bags

Year 2008, i made a promise/note to myself that i will take careful thought on my bag purchases. It should deviate from the usual safe colors of black, brown, navy, or it should sport a different and unique/odd design or style. And purchases should be made far between to ensure each bag is used and appreciated a LOT before we move on to the next one.

so far, here are my latest conquests: The Guess Getaway Bag in Rose color. Accidentally seen in
the Guess Accessories Store located in the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney, when i took the girls out on a city trip. It was buried way down amongst the big denim logo-ed bags where a 40% off sign was placed. I liked the size as its small enough to be slung across the chest ( for those long walks and shopping trips with the girls), and it had 2 main compartments and a few more small compartments and zippers so that all my stuff has its own place and is not scattered randomly inside the bag. It has a small G logo sign, which is perfect as i've always found the big G signs too gawdy for me. The downside is that the bag is canvas, and as with all canvas bags, can catch dirt and smell, but i Guess, it can be washed so that can be dealt with easily.

Second conquest was the Ninewest Dusk Powder Small Hobo. This was a result from admiring my friend's NineWest purchase sometime last December. I have noticed ( thru her bag) that workmanship is good, material of the bag is not leather, but it seems to feel like it and quality is good too. since then, i have been on the look-out for a ninewest bag but unfortunately, the store in Sydney primarily carry medium to large bags.

Until i saw this one late January and was immediately attracted to it. There was an all-black version of this bag, but i like the 2-tone one with the stone and black combination. Strap length is okay as the rolled strap sits well on my shoulders and does not slip easily. It has 3 organizational pockets and has a matching coin purse as well. It looks puffy with the billowy bottom but its probably designed that way to make the main comparment roomier. it is lightweight and is secured by a tab/button closure. Does not fit to my ideal requirement for security in a bag ( i prefer zips, and flaps come in second) but since the bag is carried close to the body, you can still feel secure when you bring this. i also like the mesh detail found inside the lining of the bag. I do not really understand the use of that, but its a new and unique detail. At $79, this bag is a good buy.

My metallic phase

I've never been fond of silver or gold bags as I find them too outrageous--until I met the Stella bag by Esprit. It is made of gunmetal black polyurethane, which gives it a bit of shimmer and silvery sheen.

From the collection, I was smitten by the Shoulder Bag which had the long strap I need so I can sling it across my body while holding my baby. Unfortunately, this style is not available Down Under, and the European Esprit shops that carry it online does not ship worldwide. And so I had to choose between the Hobo style (see picture) and the Handbag.

The handbag I like because of the way the zipper opens wide so I can see everything, and the shape is longish and slouchy which makes it less structured than the other handbags. The Hobo, on the other hand, is a lot more practical as it sits comfortably on my shoulder and it's practically weightless. The downside is that, as with all other hobos, all of your things settle down at the bottom, and you need to dig when you search for those keys or that much needed nappy rash ointment.

Am currently still in this phase as I am happily carrying the Hobo bag, and I have an older daughter who is willing to fish out the stuff I need from Stella. I pine though for the long-strapped one as, after all, it's my first metal-love-bag.


mustAveabag

Post your bags!

And so I said to Maria, we must take photos of our bags, both past and present, so we can keep track of what we have. This way, we can document our bag "growing-up" phase.

So I will start with me: currently, I am in the Esprit and Old Navy stage. I like their canvas bags, mixed with polyurethane or fake leather, because it's lightweight and easy to handle and maintain. More importantly, it does not burn a big hole in my wallet. If you are as bag-crazy as we are, you need to watch your pennies and pesos, too. Besides, after having Baby No. 2, I just can't stand the smell of leather anymore.

My red Esprit Mali has all the rivets, buckles and rings I need in a bag. It is tastefully done in bronze, which compliments the deep red of its fake leather material. My only problem is that the single strap cannot be adjusted, and it's not short enough to sit comfortably on my shoulder and be kept under the arm, or long enough to wear it as a sling or cross-body. This bag tends to slip off my shoulders, especially when I am carrying other stuff in my hands.

But it is still beautiful and I will keep it with me till Bub is old enough to walk by herself.

mustAveabag

Happiness is …

Dipping into the wish jar of Keri Smith.

Self-described as “author, illustrator, guerilla artist,” Keri keeps a very popular blog.

Best of all, many of The Wish Jar’s posts on “explorations of the familiar” are on bags.

Although our husbands and mother are constantly worried about our (mis)placed priorities for bags (as well as the sad state of our outer- and underwear), reading Keri reaffirmed what mustAveabag and I recite as our mantra: Bag a happiness when you can!

Maria